27/02/2022

Archive

World Book Day

Books are everything  “Some people like to read the biographies of the most influential people in history, like Martin Luther King or Mahatma Ghandi. Some people like novels that send chills down their spines, from goth horror novels like Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” to Stephen King’s epistolary novel, “Carrie”. Some prefer the classics, like “Pride and Prejudice” or the “Old Man and the Sea”. But regardless of the kind of books you like the most, the indisputable truth is that the...

Celebrating Seaweek – connecting with our Seas

NZAEE Seaweek – Kaupapa Moana – is New Zealand’s annual national week celebrating the sea.   Sat. 5 March – Sun. 13 March 2022   Started by the Marine Education Society of Australasia (now part of NZAEE), Seaweek was first held in New Zealand in 1992. Since then, Seaweek has been directed by NZAEE members and volunteers with support from a wide range of individuals, groups, and organisations. And more recently, starting in 2019, Sir Peter Blake Marine Education and Recreation Centre (MERC) has been at the helm managing and...

Earth futures festival

An international film and video festival showcasing the role of geoscience in our sustainable future. Earth Futures Festival connects geoscience and the arts raising international awareness of the role Earth Science plays in building our sustainable future....

Rabbit plague and how to handle

Rabbits are an enormous problem for Australian ecosystems – they’re a major threat to 322 species of plants and animals already at risk of extinction. This is more than double the number of species threatened by cats and foxes. The Conversation investigation To keep rabbit numbers down, many land managers roll out rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus, a powerful biocontrol. Land managers play a crucial role in conserving the environment and managing pest species – their involvement is essential to the...

Covid : Cows, not wildlife, the problem

A new IUCN report by the Species Survival Commission finds that contact with and trade of domesticated animals and their products are by far the most frequent source of recurring human illness. While less evidence exists tracing zoonotic disease cases to direct interactions with wildlife, risks linked to poorly regulated trade remain a concern. The new report – Situation analysis on the roles and risks of wildlife in the emergence of human infectious diseases – was published by the International...

Threatened wetlands in Paraguay’s Lake Ypacaraí raise legal questions

Wetlands surrounding the protected Lake Ypacaraí in Paraguay are being filled in to allow for the construction of housing and tourism projects. In addition to providing habitats for countless species of flora and fauna, the wetlands act as a filter for freshwater and help control flooding and erosion. The projects were approved by the Ministry of Environment, sparking outcry from congressmen who want to know if protected area laws are being ignored in favor of urban development. Urban development projects...

BirdLife working with Belarusian partner APB

Belarus is now one of the world’s leaders in peatlands restoration, and work on ecological rehabilitation of peatlands continues. And APB has worked hand-in-hand with the government to support that work. The numbers speak for themselves – more than 17,200 hectares of drained peatlands have been re-wetted. APB funded work to increase the area of the priceless Almany Mires Nature Reserve, an Important Bird and Biodiversity area (IBA), by 10,000 hectares, bringing it to a total of almost 104,000 hectares,...

What’s in a name …

It is our good fortune and legacy to have both Māori and scientific names to describe the natural world around us. By Ann Graeme    In our native forest grows a moss, the largest moss  in the world. Most pākehā simply call it the “giant moss”. That is not very original. Scientists have named it Dawsonia superba. “Superb” is quite eloquent for a scientific name, and  “Dawson” is a tribute to Dawson Turner, a distinguished British botanist and moss expert. That is mildly interesting. Māori...

Earth Hour a month away….Saturday, 26 March

  Every year, millions of people across the planet turn off the lights between 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm on the last Saturday in March, this annual tradition is known as ‘Earth Hour’. The goal of this activity is to spread awareness about sustainability and climate change. This Earth Hour, we’re calling on people from all nations to sign up and join a worldwide community of millions supporting stronger action on climate change.  Everyone has the power to Shape Our...

Year of the Dove campaign explained

  Year of the Dove is a campaign which concludes in May 2022which aims to; Spotlight the plight of the Turtle Dove across their range via a global publicity campaign. Pressurise and lobby decision-makers to change and reinforce legal protection across the flyway and beyond. Which bird is mentioned in the bible more than any other? Answer Turtle Dove over 50 times! I find it amazing and heart-warming that these wonderful birds have been celebrated as part of our cultural...

City of Glasgow praised for its urban heritage – “Gotham feeling”

Welcome to Batman’s Hometown. Wait, Is That Glasgow? GLASGOW—There is a dingy, narrow alleyway around the back of the Horseshoe Bar here that looks like a place where something unpleasant could happen. It is also one of the reasons Scotland’s biggest city has landed a recurring role as Batman’s hometown. With its mix of neoclassical archaeology and what are being described  as “crimy” back streets, location scouts have noted Glasgow similarities to Gotham City, hometown to The Batman. Notably, Glasgow...

Canada : A walk in the park just what the doctor ordered

    A new program in Canada gives doctors the option of prescribing national park visits   A walk in the park may be just what the doctor ordered. Comment : Great concept- begs the question “should we charge entry fee for National Parks in the first place ?  A new program launched last month in Canada gives some doctors the option of providing patients with a free annual pass to the country’s national parks as part of an effort...

“Just add water” – Lake Eyre, Australia, is back

Water Giver of new life Lake Eyre begins filling with water – much to delight of tourists, businesses   Few rivers in the world remain as untamed and free-flowing as those that run through the ancient landscape of the Lake Eyre Basin. Recent generous rainfall over Australia’s inland Channel Country is breathing new life into ecosystems and it’s getting graziers and businesses excited for a big year ahead. Red dirt country has transformed into lush green expanses, cobbled with patterns...

Celebrating all things botany

The BSBI is for everyone who is interested in the flora of Britain and Ireland. We trace our origins back to 1836, when the society was founded as the Botanical Society of London. We are now one of the world’s largest contributors of biological records: our data inform scientific research and underpin evidence-based conservation. Find out more about BSBI’s Policy on Nature Conservation. From our earliest days we have welcomed both professional and amateur members: BSBI remains the biggest and...